Patient Stories
Robotic Hysterectomy Treats Uterine Cancer
For about a year, Huntington Beach resident Janis Kirkpatrick, was experiencing irregular bleeding, so she decide to speak with a physician about it. She was referred to Jonathan Wheeler, M.D., a Hoag-affiliated Obstetrician/Gynecologist who discovered that Janis had been through menopause, and that the spotting she was experiencing was post-menopausal. “I didn’t even realize I … Read More
When cancer strikes "below the belt"
When cancer strikes “below the belt,” the results can be devastating to a couple. In addition to standard fears that accompany a diagnosis of the “Big C,” reproductive cancers carry the potential for sexual dysfunction and loss of intimacy. The Pinterpes of Huntington Beach faced those fears. Twice. Sam Pinterpe, 69, was diagnosed with prostate … Read More
Families Trust Mom, and Mom Trusts Hoag
In 2011, Jennifer Yee went from being a happily married woman expecting her first child to an ovarian cancer patient overnight. The elation she felt after years of trying to conceive was suddenly at risk as her world turned upside down. The questions, confusion and fear could have been overwhelming for someone facing two significant, … Read More
Rare Cancer Requires Specialized, Caring Team
Jillian Rossello wanted everyone to forget that she had been an ER nurse at Hoag. “Act like I don’t know anything,” she’d tell her doctors and nurses. Because, in the case of her rare form of sarcoma, she really didn’t. At the age of 28, Rossello was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a tumor that … Read More
Brain Tumor Survivor is Celebrating Six Years and Counting Thanks To Hoag
For Lindsay Susskind, life is good. Wearing a bright sundress and a sunny smile, Lindsay’s excitement towards life shows as she talks about her recent engagement.
A life-saving service: The Hereditary Cancer Program at Hoag
Many people worry about hereditary cancer, especially if they have a close family member who has had cancer. Although most cancers are not hereditary, in some families a predisposition to cancer is passed down from one generation to the next, with about one in 10 cancer patients having hereditary cancer. It is also important to … Read More
From Cancer Patient to Cancer-Free Tourist
Mary Sellers underwent an operation, radiation and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer – and went home the next day. A few weeks later, she enjoyed a river cruise between Prague and Budapest